"There are 6,470,818,671 people in the world, six billion souls and sometimes all you need is one."-Peyton Sawyer
A couple weeks ago, I explained how I received a text message showing "how do the boys get so dang lucky." Well, I truly told the truth of what I had believed for the longest time. But, I never said who I had received that message from. I have many people in my life that have impacted my life and made my high school years the most memorable years of my life. Yet, there still happens to be the one that continues to guide me through the right path. This man happened to be my P.E. teacher, coach, and neighbor. Mr. Greg (Leslie) Perkins.
When I was 8,a year of my parents divorce had already taken place. I took my dog out for a walk. Of course, my dog was a tiny mutt and tried to act tough around the pure breed big dogs. It was one morning I took smokey out for a walk. I past, the hospital looking house where dogs came running after my little dog and I. Then this mysterious looking man came to retrieve his own dogs so they wouldn't eat my dog. This is the first time we had ever crossed paths without ever realizing it.
Eighth grade came around and I found my love for basketball. But, as always an ending of a chapter ends. Eighth grade basketball ended which meant time for the "big league."I went to the high school girls open gym towards the end of eighth grade year. Won't lie they were twice the size of me which made me afraid of them. I arrived and yet the coach greeted me nicely and he let me shoot around. I remember him talking to the soon to be seniors that I was "Victor Paz" little sister. From that moment on the never ending memories and bond began to form.
Till this day I really don't care what anyone thinks. As in being a "teachers pet","suck up", or even a "snitch." In reality I just know who to keep in my life that will be there until the end by guiding, listening, and helping me become a better person. Which is what he has done over the course of time.
When the world suddenly became dark. He was always there to guide me back to the light . Where I learned the sun was going to rise again in the morning. I remember the first time he really knew how I was. My sophomore year, I had my premature niece living with us and things were pretty rough. He picked me up for school one Winter morning when it was cold. When my mother had to stay in the hospital with my niece and cousin. When I had gotten in the biggest fight with my parents they were talking to me about getting "help" for my behavior at home. Yet, they didn't really know me for they never had taken the chance. I wouldn't have the bond with my mother today if I hadn't found him in the team room one afternoon and taught me how to really forgive people. I had fallen out of love for basketball I had the word "quitting" in my mind. Well, that also changed with some advice.
I wouldn't have been the type of basketball player in the long run if it wasn't him and his negative comments he doesn't remember. But yet, it's not just the advice and motivation I will miss throughout time. It's also the memories that I will only have to look back to in a long run. Words can't really explain my gratitude and how truly blessed I am for this second fatherly figure. Having to put up with me for four years takes a lot of hair out of you and will eventually make you go bald. But, it's that fact that he became the one soul out of 6 billion people well at least until this point.
Whenever I think of Perkins, all I can think about is how good he is at talking smack! He’s been my P.E teacher since 7th grade and I’ve had him just about every year since. However, it is extremely obvious how powerful the bond is between you and him. We can all tell that he is like a second father to you without even telling us. Life is full of crazy and strange things, and you’ll never know who you will bond with. You have found just one of the few spirits that you’ll find in life. Hopefully the rest of us can find someone who will do as much as Perkins has done for you.
ReplyDeleteI always thought that Perkins was the best gym teacher that there ever was. His daughter was my older sister's best friend, so I got to see him a lot. He is very motivational and has great life philosophies to share in almost every situation. He is a great role model. I think that it is so awesome that you were able to find him and create such a powerful bond. No one can put a value on a child hood role model, and I think that you would agree that you would not trade him for anything. Cherish what time that you still have left in high school, because I can already feel it slipping away faster than I thought it would.
ReplyDeleteIt was clearly obviously on who you were going to write your blog about. I’m pretty sure it was obvious for me as well. Both you and I have a strong connection with our coaches that they literally feel like family in our lives. I have to agree that through hard times there will always be someone who will be there for us. For you that was Perkins, and for me it was Delmar. Both of our coaches seem to have helped not only us, but many more people before us and those who will come after us. I really liked you blog because I was able to relate to it very well. I have to say, coaches are the best people you could ever meet.
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